“He didn’t want to get up, he just started looking around frantically for his people.”
At Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL), a recent influx of rescues has left the shelter at maximum capacity, forcing the staff to temporarily suspend all future intakes. But that all changed when, while on a routine walk with a beloved resident the other day, staff members encountered a lone dog stuck in an unexpected situation.
“We were out walking a dog, when [we] see … ANOTHER one tied up out back next to one of our magnolia trees,” SRSL wrote on Facebook.
Stray Rescue of St. Louis
To their surprise, a 1-year-old, 73-pound dog was left tethered to a tree behind the shelter, and his sorrow-filled eyes were begging them for help. With their kennels already filled and not enough adoption applications to alleviate the space, the staff worried about taking in the dog. But they couldn’t just leave him out there on his own.
“Even when we cease all rescue efforts, they are still coming in faster than we can get them out,” SRSL wrote.
Stray Rescue of St. Louis
While staff members scrambled to set up a temporary safe space for the dog, later named Oak, at the shelter, the volunteer who discovered him worked on gaining his trust.
“He didn’t want to get up, he just started looking around frantically for his people,” SRSL wrote. “But they’re not coming back …”
Stray Rescue of St. Louis
Heartbroken, the volunteer approached Oak and attempted to calm him down. After a few minutes of gentle reassurance, they untied him from the tree and welcomed him into the shelter.
“This guy is safe, we are taking him in, but we are setting up ANOTHER crate in a very loud and chaotic room,” SRSL wrote. “This is breaking our hearts.”
Oak settled into his crate after a while, where he’s been staying ever since. Apart from routine walks and daily playtime with his friends, Oak spends most of his time in his crate, trying to remain calm inside the busy shelter.
Stray Rescue of St. Louis
As much as the folks at SRSL love having him around, they are desperate to find him the perfect home to decompress in. Or, at the very least, they hope to send other residents off to forever homes, which would give Oak a little more space while he waits.
Oak may still be on the hunt for his happily-ever-after, but his new friends at SRSL are confident that the right match is out there. As they see it, it’s only a matter of time until someone falls in love with Oak just as they have.
“He’s so sweet,” SRSL wrote.
To inquire about adopting Oak, you can email [email protected] or fill out an application here.
To help dogs like Oak get the care they need, you can donate to Stray Rescue of St. Louis here.